Newsletter #3 - The Trivium (Spiritual)

When last we wrote to you we spoke about a fundamental part of classical Christian education: the trivium. We wrote a little about its academic virtue. This month we wanted to talk more about the spiritual virtue of the trivium. Throughout history, the trivium has been instrumental in shaping the spiritual formation of individuals within the Church. From the early days of Christianity to the present, the trivium has served as a framework for theological education and spiritual growth. We are grateful for the work of Ravi Scott Jain and Kevin Clark in their book The Liberal Arts Tradition and much of what you will read below is inspired by it. We cannot recommend it enough!

Grammar
For the early church, mastering grammar was crucial for engaging with scripture. Proficiency in grammar allowed educated early Christians to read and understand the scriptures in their original languages— Hebrew and Greek. This was essential in the time of the early church to ensure correct doctrine and teaching. More importantly, however, Joshua 1:8 teaches us that we are to meditate on the scriptures day and night. Learning to use language well was therefore an act of devotion, a way to draw closer to God by understanding His word more fully.

At St Anselm’s we will do just this - invest in the liberal art of grammar so that our pupils can understand and know God through His scriptures. This, in part, means we will teach our pupils through methods that are often thought of as irrelevant in the modern day: memorisation and the classical languages! We will talk more about each of these and why we love them in another newsletter. All that to say, we want our pupils to know the scriptures and know how to read them. As it says in Jeremiah 9:24, “but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me”.

Logic/Dialectic
Logic enabled early Christians to discern truth from falsehood, an essential skill in a time when the church faced numerous theological challenges. Augustine's Confessions and Aquinas' Summa Theologica are great examples of logical structure applied to theology. For the early church, logic was not merely a secular skill but a divine tool that allowed the faithful to think God's thoughts after Him. At St Anselm’s we believe that, as Jesus said, the truth will set us free. We want to equip our pupils with the tools of reason to discern truth alongside their faith.

Practically speaking this means that, unlike in many classrooms of today, when leading a class in Socratic discussion the teacher does not ask a series of leading questions designed to ensure pupils get the “right answer”. The goal is to train students to ask the kind of questions of the text that will lead them to truth and understanding.

Rhetoric
The Arts of grammar and logic are then made complete in rhetoric. Cicero said that the purpose of rhetoric was “movere, docere, delectare”- “To move, to instruct, and to delight”. Rhetoric in the trivium was about more than just speaking well; it was about communicating truth effectively and moving hearts toward God. Figures like St. Paul exemplified the power of rhetoric in spreading Christianity. The ability to articulate the faith persuasively, to teach, is described in scripture as a spiritual gift. Asking God for our children to be blessed with this gift and then training them in it will be the culmination of the language arts of the trivium.

Again, thinking about what this will look like at St Anselm’s, we thought we would point towards a wonderful podcast on the art of Rhetoric and how to train pupils in it. Classical Stuff You Should Know is a terrific podcast created by teachers at a school founded by friends of the St Anselm’s team (Home - Veritas Academy. Classical, Christian, Collaborative.) Their episode on Ethos, Logos, Pathos will do a far better job of explaining than we will in a short newsletter!

We believe the trivium fosters human flourishing — intellectual, moral and spiritual. It equips individuals with the skills to engage with the world critically and thoughtfully, to defend their faith with reason, and to communicate effectively with others. Likewise, it helps children to grow in their understanding of scripture and of what is true.  This comprehensive education was believed to shape not just the mind but the character, preparing individuals to live virtuous and holy lives. It’s that tradition we want to reclaim and want for our (and your!) children.